Assessment of Health-Related Behaviors in Patients Hospitalized with Chronic Psychiatric Disorders—A Case-Control Study from a Closed Psychiatric Ward

TL;DR

This study compares dietary and lifestyle behaviors of hospitalized psychiatric patients with those of mentally healthy individuals, finding notable differences.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence of behavioral differences in psychiatric patients, highlighting potential intervention areas.

Findings

Significant differences were found in meal regularity and physical activity between psychiatric patients and controls.

Strong associations were observed for meal types and stress-induced eating behaviors.

The findings suggest the need for targeted dietary and lifestyle interventions in psychiatric care.

Abstract

Background: Severe psychiatric disorders are frequently associated with disruptions in health-related behaviors, including diet and lifestyle. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess and compare selected dietary and lifestyle behaviors among long-term psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with unspecified dementia (F03) or organic delusional disorder (F06.2) and a control group of mentally healthy individuals. Methods: A 50-item validated questionnaire was administered to 28 hospitalized patients and 10 control participants. Analyses included nutritional habits, physical activity, stimulant use, and hydration, using non-parametric tests and effect size indicators (Cramér’s V). Results: Significant differences were observed in meal regularity, frequency of meals, types of beverages consumed, and physical activity. Strong associations were found for meal types (V = 0.590) and stress-induced eating (V = 0.525). Conclusions: The observed behavioral differences may reflect disease-related effects, demographic variation, or a combination of both. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest key areas for further investigation and support the need for targeted dietary and lifestyle interventions in psychiatric settings.